Live In St. Pete

SatMornMarket

Among my favorite things to do is visit the Saturday Morning Market in downtown St. Petersburg. What started out small on a single block of Central Avenue has grown into a huge market, now taking up the entire parking lot of Progress Energy Park (Al Lang Stadium, for those of us who have lived here more than a few years).
It’s wonderful to see all the interesting wares, fresh produce, live music and delicious foods that the market has to offer. (I even did some of my Christmas shopping at the market this year.) Even better is to see lots of folks walking around downtown. After the market, many people meander along Beach Drive or towards Central to brunch or lunch at their favorite spots.
In the summer, the Market takes shelter in the parking lot of the Mahaffey Theater. It was remarkably cool and shady when I went last before the market returned to its primary location. I’ll look forward to that spot for a change of scenery when the weather changes.

ElectricMarina

On the approach to the Pier in downtown St. Petersburg you’ll find The Electric Marina Boat Rentals. Of course they’ve got kayaks and water bikes to play around in Vinoy Basin, but I was surprised to learn about their sailboats and electric boats. Every Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. they offer free 10 minute rides so you can try it out.
In addition to the recreational rentals, talk to Nancy Frainetti about purchasing an electric hybrid yacht. Find out more about the marina at www.electricmarina.com, or about the yacht sales at www.EndeavourGreen.com.

Z Grille

Joined a friend for lunch today at Z Grille, a hip, urban restaurant that calls the new Signature Place building home. Chef Zack and Jennifer Gross took their Central Avenue success to the next level with this awesome restaurant that offers a unique, fresh menu in a very cool environment.
It was a light crowd for lunch, meaning that it wasn’t noisy, but a sure sign that we need the word of mouth to travel a little south of Central at lunchtime. The ambience is unique, too, with cool shiny surfaces, even a bamboo halfpipe overhead and artwork from a well-known local tattoo artist (on the walls and on Zack, Jenny & some of the staff for good measure). Read more about the restaurant and see their menus at http://www.zgrille.net.
Lunch was great, starting with the special wild mushroom soup (it seems like a popular soup theme around town, and I have yet to meet one I didn’t like). I had the turkey, brie & bacon sandwich, which was delicious. My friend from the eastern shore decided to try their spin on crab cakes, with a tortilla crusting and a totally different taste sensation than you’ll find in Maryland – but it was a hit nonetheless. The wait staff was attentive and pleasant, and we had a very nice, enjoyable lunch. See more pictures on Flickr.
There are a lot of things on the menu I like – deviled eggs, for example. Why wait until somebody hosts a house party to have them? The B.L.A.S.T. appetizer with its sea scallop anchor is out of this world. And I can’t wait to try the legendary fried Dr. Pepper ribs. Guess I’ll just have to make a point to go back, and often!

Cantina Fireworks

Met with friends last night for happy hour drinks & nibbles at the Red Mesa Cantina downtown. Much of the decor remains from the space’s previous incarnation as DeSanto, which I’m glad for because my friend Frank Fraze was the architect and did a great job on the design! The building, part of the old McNulty Station, has great character with lots of brick, and the indoor space flows out into the lush courtyard. Last night, as it was Thursday, there was great Latin music outside, and the place was really filling up for dinner.
I’ll definitely be back to try more of the food offerings, as everything looked quite appealing. I’ve heard great reviews about the food – except from folks who are expecting it to be an exact copy of the menu from the original Red Mesa up on 4th Street.
As we see media reports of restaurants in trouble in this economy, I always appreciate how vibrant our foodie scene is in downtown St. Pete. If you haven’t tried the Cantina yet, make a point to do it soon. Ole!